Maybe that's true now, but back when I had a PS3 the online service was crap. It was disjointed and clunky and hard to find what you were looking for. I'm sure they fixed that with the latest update though.

The store is fantastic now: easy to use and find things and loads way faster. And if you have PS+ you can designate a time to download and auto-install downloads so you don't have to be doing it instead of playing games. It's pretty slick.

It's always done background downloading, but the major difference between Sony and MS is that MS installs while downloading so once the download is done you're all set; Sony downloads still have to install and the user can't do anything while the item is installing which is what makes that PS+ feature so nice that now, unless you wish to use the content right away, you can just have it all install while you sleep instead of wasting gaming time.

Probably, but I also think we'll see the Playstation 4's online service no longer being free.Hopefully they'll do something like PS+ and make it worth the money, and still a better value than whatever Microsoft offers (I doubt they'll ever give "free" games) but I have a feeling the days of free online play will end with the Playstation 3.

I don't think so. Not with Valve threatening the Steambox, and the Wii U already offering free online play. I don't think that Sony would charge for online play, especially with so many people willing to pay for + since it's such a good service.